Mad River Glen ski resort is situated near the famed Sugarbush resort, in the town of Waitsfield, south of Burlington, and offers varied terrain; however, it remains off-limits to snowboarders. Thrill-seekers will find fantastic trails leading through trees, over frozen waterfalls and down cliffs. Mad River Glen also has the distinction of having the nation's last surviving single-person chairlift.
The small towns of Waitsfield and Warren provide the resort services and facilities and have art galleries, country stores, and antique and collectibles shops. Other facilities include: a full service ski and rental shop with retail store; ski school programmes for all levels; and childcare for children from six months to six years ($55 for a full day, $40 for a half-day).
Mad River Glen prides itself in having no condos, and instead offers cosy country inns, family townhouses, classic bed-and-breakfasts, and economical ski lodges. Non-ski activities include ice-skating and skijoring; while for sustenance you have elegant restaurants and fast-food joints. Additionally, bars at the base lodges have live music.
Most of the terrain at Mad River Glen resort is not known for its easy-going nature, and both beginners and intermediates have tough slopes, while experts have tight woods, cliffs, waterfalls, monster moguls and boulders to contend with. Five lift systems have an hourly uplift capacity of 3,000 people and run over a 620-metre vertical to provide access to the pistes - the longest of which is four kilometres.
For alternative skiing, nearby Sugarbush has a wider range of slopes and also permits snowboarding on all pistes. Alternatively, for a day away from the slopes, the surrounding pastoral countryside offers some wonderful scenic driving and is scattered with farmhouses and restored barns and inns.
The ski season at Mad River Glen resort runs from November to April and the cheapest rates are in the mid-December week. Children under six years and seniors over 69 years ski for free. Flying to Burlington International Airport and transfering by shuttle bus or hire car offers the most convenient travel option.
